Right of way, turns and intersections in Louisiana
Intersections are among the most dangerous places on any road. Louisiana's rules say who must yield, but the law never gives anyone the right of way outright, and you should give way whenever insisting would be unsafe.
This page covers yielding, signaling, turns, shared center lanes and roundabouts as they appear in the Louisiana Driver's Guide.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can decide who goes first at a four-way stop.
- You can make a legal right turn on red.
- You can signal and position correctly for left and right turns.
- You can use a shared center left-turn lane within the legal limit.
- You can enter, circulate and leave a roundabout safely.
What you need to know and understand
- When two vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- A traffic signal that is not working turns the intersection into an all-way stop.
- Signal continuously for at least 100 feet before turning, and get into the proper lane at least 100 feet before the turn.
- Unless a sign forbids it, you may turn right on red after a full stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians.
- A left turn on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, where not prohibited.
- You may not travel more than 200 feet in a shared center left-turn lane.
- Do not make a U-turn on a hill or curve where drivers within 500 feet in either direction cannot see you.
Who must yield
- Drivers turning left yield to oncoming traffic, including bicyclists.
- Drivers at a T intersection yield to traffic on the through road.
- Drivers coming from an unpaved road, driveway, alley or parking space yield to traffic on the main road.
- All drivers yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks and to anyone using a guide dog or white cane.
- Pull to the right and stop for emergency vehicles using a siren and flashing lights.
- Traffic entering a roundabout yields to traffic already circulating.
Making a left turn
- Check mirrors and signal at least 100 feet before the turn.
- Move into the correct lane. If a lane is marked left turn only, you may only turn left from it.
- Keep your wheels pointed straight while waiting, so a rear-end crash will not push you into oncoming traffic.
- Wait for a safe gap, check for pedestrians, and turn without cutting the corner.
- Finish in the proper lane of the new road.
Roundabouts and center turn lanes
Slow down as you approach a roundabout and yield to traffic already in it, plus pedestrians and bicyclists. Travel counterclockwise, choose your lane before entering on multi-lane roundabouts, and do not change lanes or pass inside. Signal right to exit. Stay clear of trucks and buses, which need extra room.
In a shared center left-turn lane, enter only shortly before your turn, never use it to pass, and remember the 200-foot limit. The deeper guide learning to drive in Louisiana on this site covers how these skills are tested.
Common mistakes
- Rolling through a right turn on red without a full stop.
- Turning the wheels left while waiting to turn left.
- Driving long distances in the center turn lane to get ahead of traffic.
- Assuming a dark traffic signal means you can drive straight through. Treat it as an all-way stop.
Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in Louisiana
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Sources: Class D and E Driver's Guide, DPSMV2052 (R08/25) (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the Louisiana licensing agency.